SKINNER: DU Group to discuss provisions of ACA??

I've looked and don't see a group dedicated to discussion of the provisions of Affordable Care Act. With the application period starting October 1 of this year, I was thinking such a group would be useful for many here.

1. I absolutely agree.

I would suggest that the Democratic Party Get-Out-in-Front of 2014 with:

* National, Regional, and Local Information and Education campaigns,

*fully funded and staffed regional and local offices to assist confused citizens

*Trained Crisis Management and Emergency Response teams

*national TV and Media campaigns to explain all the details and options.

The best estimates predict that between 40 MILLION and 70 MILLION Americans will be uninsured by 2014.

As an uninsured American that will be directly affected, I have sought detailed information,
and it is not easy to find.

I currently "self-pay" for my Health "Care" are a Community Health Center,
and NOBODY there has any of the details concerning the implementation ACA, especially the eligibility and application processes,
and VERY few are familiar with even the Broadest Outlines of the ACA.

I have met NOBODY On-the-Street that has even the vaguest understanding of The Mandate, The Exchange, the Levels of Insurance/Coverage offered on the Exchange,The Option to Refuse and the Penalties, or the now "Optional" Medicaid Expansion, Who is covered and who isn't.
NOBODY!

Last week, I was talking to an informed Democrat, active in our local Democratic Party,
who was under the delusion the the ACA contained a Government Administered Federal Public Option available to everybody!!!

If this turns into a chaotic nightmare in 2014,
there WILL be 40 Million - 70 Million Americans who will blame the Democratic Party.

The only problem I foresee with this group at DU is that it will be chaotic, partisan,
and deluged with vague and conflicting information.

2. Kicking for the night crowd.

I had more of an educational forum in mind, where we can all share our experiences and learn about ACA together. From what I see at http://www.healthcare.gov/law/ there are very beneficial provisions coming soon and the more we educate ourselves and share what we know, the better. There are lots of very knowledgeable people here that I'm sure will chime in. I think it'd be great to have a forum on DU help to pave the way for all of us that will have to learn to navigate the new system.

7. This GD host is kicking in support, with a suggestion...

GD moves really quick and isn't the best place for threads looking for support to request the creation of a new group.

The best thing to do is start an OP in Meta and link to this thread so the K&R's from here aren't lost, and then when you think you've got enough people giving support, you should PM yr request to the admins with a link to yr thread with the support in them...

2. If you make less than about $30,000 you are going to get you insurance thru the state plan which will subsidize your health insurance so you don't pay any more than 8% of your income. ($10,000 x .08 = $800).

3. Everyone else chooses the policy they want and they sign up and start paying the premium. No questions about previous conditions, etc.

4. If you think you can't afford it and you'd rather just pay a penalty at tax time, you have that option. But you won't have any insurance.

5. If the policies are so expensive and your income is so low that you can't get coverage for about 10% of your income, there will be no penalty for not getting it.

6. Done. Check out the connector site, pretend you live in Massachusetts and see what Obamacare is bringing to your area soon.